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What does Alabama need to do to run the ball on Auburn? Block those cats up front, Saban said.

“Most of the time when you don’t run it good it is because of them cats they got over there that you can’t block,” Saban said. “What makes good defensive football players are guys that are hard to block. When we can block them, we can run it. And when we can’t block them, we can’t run it very well. So it is not just the 8-man front–it is the cats playing it.”

And does Auburn have the cats to stop Alabama?

“The guys we are going to play this week have some pretty good cats up front,” Saban said. “So we are going to have to do a really good job up front and we are going to have to do a good job of being balanced in what we do offensively.”

Big Injury Report
The bye week helped the rehabilitation of Terrence Cody. Saban said the rest helped the big man’s knee.

“He is not favoring his leg,” Saban said. “He is pushing off. He has gotten some of his initial quickness back. He is playing faster and moving better…He has certainly improved each week that he has come back, but I think this time has helped him dramatically.”

A loss to Auburn isn’t the end of the world
A loss to Auburn won’t be the end of the world. Nick Saban said that Wednesday afternoon. Listening to Auburn fans (and some Alabama fans on talk radio) it would seem that a loss would be a disaster signaling the apocalypse. And for fans who live in close proximity to one another, surely it could feel like that. But in the modern world of college football a loss is anything but the end of the world.

Saban deftly reminded the press and fans that Alabama has another game following Auburn. The Crimson Tide will be hitting Atlanta for a chance at the SEC Championship regardless of what happens in Tuscaloosa against Auburn. Look at what happened last year to LSU. The team lost two conference games, but still managed to win the conference and national championship.

The regular season isn’t as important as it used to be. And that is a result of how the BCS works, conference championship games, extended regular seasons and parity.

Rivalries matter, but college football has changed. The regular season just isn’t as special as it once was.

We can pretend it is, but much of major college football (I refuse to call it FBS) already participates in what is tantamount to a playoff system. And it has done what many suggested it would—cheapened games that should be important. Florida’s loss to Ole Miss? Forgotten. Oklahoma’s loss to Texas? All but lost in the mists of time.

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7 thoughts on “Key to the Iron Bowl: Blocking them cats”

  1. THERE WILL BE NO LOSS TO THESE HILLYBILLY AURTURDS.THIS GAME IS OVER NOW IN MY BOOK.AURTURDS STAND NO CHANCE TO BEAT THIS BAMA TEAM.NOT AT ALL.ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

  2. what happened to “dominating our opponent”?

    sorry guys, while this game isn’t what it once was due to a miriad of reasons, it’s a huge game.

    this game is a benchmark.

    this game is an exorcism.

    the top instate talent are naturally attracted to the top instate program.

    nick saban’s affected auburn everywhere but where it really counts, between the sidelines.

    time for that to end.

    i don’t expect a blowout.

    i do expect a win.

    i’ll worry about florida next week.

    roll tide and happy thanksgiving to all.

  3. As well you should I dont look for AU to win ( HOPE THEY DO ) But I do look for Florida to put that SECCG out of reach in the early ihe 3rd. They have WAY to much talent and a Far superior QB you cant stack 8 on him like you will AU this week. You cant play him for the pass to much or HE will hurt you. SO you guys have less of a chance to beat FL then AU does to beat uat. Do the math and STFU bushsux you loser POC!!!

    WPB!!!

  4. omni,
    hmmm. Maybe you do live in the Bizarro world. Bama is favored over the barn by 14 pts. by the odds makers. The early line for the Gaytors vs. Bama is 8 pts. Evidently the odds makers think we have a better chance of beating the Gaytors than the barn has against us. You have a warped mind my friend. I think the odds makers know more about these things than you do.

  5. If is rains at bryann-denny then AU will load up tht box too. Making this a real slugfest. Unfortunaely the real loser would be Bama even if they win. It means they whill carry a tired and banged up team into atlanta.

  6. omni, we heard the same things from all the pundits a few weeks back about texas tech.

    tech was beaten by a ball control offense and pressure defense.

    exactly what alabama does. and IF florida is beaten, it’s what will beat them too.

    funny, isn’t it. how many teams couldn’t handle the pressure of number one until alabama assumed the throne.

    yet all we hear now is how undeserving of the no. 1 spot alabama is.

    the pundits are praying florida wins the secc game. they want tebow and bradford/mccoy.

    moreover, they want control of the system. they want to TELL us who’s #1.

    just as they did last year.

  7. bushsux Says:
    November 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
    omni,
    hmmm. Maybe you do live in the Bizarro world. Bama is favored over the barn by 14 pts. by the odds makers. The early line for the Gaytors vs. Bama is 8 pts. Evidently the odds makers think we have a better chance of beating the Gaytors than the barn has against us. You have a warped mind my friend. I think the odds makers know more about these things than you do.

    STUPID as BUSH
    ITS A SUCKER BET!!! take those points and give up your LOOT HELL if I knew you better I would give you 14 in the SECCG its what im giving my boys!! and after that game i ll be drinking and playing on bammers(whom I love very much) dime!

    And finebammer way to follow suit with the “PUNDIT TAKE” its not ROMES CLONES its SHANES BRAINS
    NOW!!! theres a catch phrase for ya!

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